Back To The 80s

Gu Xiaobei greatly agreed with Li Fengmei’s words, this Qin Ximei was really someone who could stir up a lot of things.

Right now, what Li Fengmei was most worried about was that Gu Xiaobei could give birth at any time. Looking at Gu Xiaobei’s frighteningly large belly, she couldn’t help but say: "I don’t know when the squad leader and the others will be back, I’m really worried that you could give birth at any time."

"Really? It’s only been eight months, it should be around the eighth month?" Gu Xiaobei had no experience and after being said by Li Fengmei, she became a bit scared. Moreover, her stomach felt like it was about to explode, bulging and frightening, with a few dark red marks on it.

Li Fengmei shook her head: "This is not accurate, seven alive, eight not alive, there are many who go into labor after seven months. You definitely need to go to the hospital to deliver; our institute doesn’t have anyone who can assist in childbirth."

Gu Xiaobei nodded, thinking that even if there was someone who could assist in childbirth, she wouldn’t dare give birth at home. It was too dangerous.

The two were leaning against the kang chatting when they heard the sound of the hen laying eggs and squawking in victory from the chicken coop below the balcony outside their window.

Li Fengmei listened and laughed, saying: "Your two hens lay eggs hard and often, they announce their achievements at this time every day."

The chickens that Gu Xiaobei raised hadn’t grown up yet and were still a ways from laying eggs, so Lu Zhanguo went to town and bought two old hens that were currently laying eggs.

Gu Xiaobei shook her head: "They’re lying, I get up from my nap, go to the chicken coop and don’t see any eggs. Sometimes I can see one every three or four days."

Li Fengmei puzzled, saying: "That’s not right, from what I see, these two hens of yours, their combs are reddish and purple, tilting to one side; it’s egg-laying time. And you’re feeding them every day, even if it’s not one egg a day, it should be one egg every other day for sure."

Gu Xiaobei’s heart thumped. Could someone be stealing the eggs? That’s too obvious, even stealing eggs.

Li Fengmei clearly thought the same thing, quickly whispering: "Let’s spy from the window to see if anyone will come to take the eggs."

The two put on their shoes and quietly walked into the kitchen balcony. The balcony window was more than half a person high. Li Fengmei went first to look down, shaking her head at Gu Xiaobei, meaning she didn’t see anyone.

Gu Xiaobei also went to have a look, there was no one behind the house. She whispered to Li Fengmei: "Maybe I thought too much."

Li Fengmei squinted for a while then said: "You stay here and watch, I’ll go see if there are any eggs in the chicken coop."

Gu Xiaobei nodded, and Li Fengmei quickly left the house and went to the chicken coop below the back balcony.

Gu Xiaobei watched as Li Fengmei bring out a white egg from the chicken coop. Her eyes narrowed to a slit. It seems that someone is indeed eyeing her two eggs daily.

"See, I wasn’t wrong. Your hen is in the egg-laying period, how could there be no eggs?" Li Fengmei held the egg, eagerly saying as soon as she entered the house.

Gu Xiaobei frowned: "Who do you think did this? Even stealing eggs."

"There are actually such people who lack integrity in our yard. They are so shameless that they even steal eggs." Li Fengmei was somewhat angry. Regardless of the size of the theft, they are still thieves.

Gu Xiaobei chuckled: "This person must have figured out the habit of my afternoon naps."

"We must devise a plan to see who the egg thief is. Like this, tomorrow when the chicken lays the egg, don’t collect it first. I’ll go upstairs and help you keep an eye on it." Li Fengmei suggested.

Gu Xiaobei thought for a while and shook her head. "Forget it, she might have seen you go to get the eggs. I guess she won’t come again." In her heart, however, she felt uncomfortable. This was too much bullying. It was well known that she was pregnant and had two hens laying eggs for after childbirth, yet someone still dared to steal.

Before Gu Xiaobei could catch the egg thief, Lu Zhanguo came back. Before coming home, Lu Zhanguo went to the hospital in town and found Doctor Jin.

Doctor Jin didn’t seem surprised at Lu Zhanguo’s appearance at all and calmly asked: "What’s wrong? Do you feel uncomfortable?"

Lu Zhanguo still had an unchanging calm face, nodded slightly, and said: "Yes, there have been a few instances of dizziness."

Doctor Jin nodded and said: "It’s probably the after-effects of the neurosurgery from the removal of the shrapnel back then. You should take a break and recuperate in the provincial city or the capital for a while. Do some physiotherapy. Our town hospital doesn’t have these medical facilities."

Lu Zhanguo was silent, not speaking for a long time. He then said: "I’ll wait until Xiaobei has given birth to our baby."

Doctor Jin’s face became serious and he slowly said: "Zhanguo, you can’t keep dragging this out. After your surgery back then, I was worried about after-effects but the conditions did not allow it. Now, you are just suffering from slight headaches and dizziness. If it gets serious, you could suffer from neurasthenia or even photophobia."

Lu Zhanguo lowered his eyes, his thin lips tightly pressed. After a moment’s thought, he said: "Once Xiaobei gives birth to our baby, I’ll feel reassured, and then I can go."

"About this, you should discuss with Xiaobei. For such a big matter, she should be the one complaining if she finds out afterwards." Suggested Doctor Jin.

Lu Zhanguo shook his head: "She’s pregnant right now and has to take care of our baby after giving birth. I’ll keep it from her for now. Don’t want her to get anxious."

Doctor Jin sighed and said: "You don’t have to worry. In recent years, our country’s medical technology has developed rapidly. Your problem is not a big one."

Lu Zhanguo nodded, remaining silent. He put on his military cap and left Doctor Jin’s office.

Coming out of the hospital’s outpatient building, Lu Zhanguo looked at the brightly blooming roses in the small garden and couldn’t help walking over. Sitting on the chair where Gu Xiaobei had sat last time, he immediately felt a dull pain in his heart.

Lu Zhanguo looked at the blossoms in front of him, thinking about the moments of being with Gu Xiaobei. Gu Xiaobei’s smile was blooming like a flower as she said: We will be together for the rest of our lives, and nothing can separate us except life or death.

Lu Zhanguo had never feared life and death as much as he did at this moment. He used to think that life and death were insignificant, always ready to make sacrifices for the mission and responsibility.

But now, he was afraid. Even though Doctor Jin said it wasn’t serious, he was afraid. How can he protect his wife and child if he goes blind? He will only be a burden to them.

Lu Zhanguo sat in the garden like a statue until the evening, when he realized how much time had passed. He quickly got up and rushed home.

Gu Xiaobei saw Zhang Lijun come home at noon, but Lu Zhanguo was nowhere in sight. She couldn’t help but ask Zhang Lijun, who told her Lud Zhanguo had gone to town for some work.

Gu Xiaobei had made dinner and still didn’t see Lu Zhanguo. She waddled to the gate of the family compound several times looking for him, but still did not see Lu Zhanguo. She was a bit puzzled as to what could possibly have taken him this long.

Because she was afraid of getting bitten by mosquitoes, Gu Xiaobei went back into the house, anxiously waiting.

As soon as Lu Zhanguo entered, he saw Gu Xiaobei pacing back and forth in the empty living room with her huge belly.

His eyes grew hot. He put down his bag and walked over gently. He hugged Gu Xiaobei and said, "Why don’t you sit down, your stomach seems to have grown a lot."